Skillet Lickers- Clayton McMichen
richie
I'm doing some research and I have a few questions about the Skillet
Lickers and Clayton McMichen.
I figure the break-up to be 1931 (even tho they recorded again in
1934). The questions are relating to his period.
When did the Skillet Lickers play WCKY in Covington? I figure it was
May 1931 with a line-up of McMichen, Pucket, Layne and Bryant. Werer
they billed as Clayton McMichen and The Skillet Lickers or just The
Skillet Lickers?
Then they moved to WLW Cincinatti. Exactly when? I figure a few months
later in 1931. So Riley Puckett stays at WCKY and Gid Tanner replaces
McMichen and I believe Bill Helms plays with Puckett and Tanner. This
was a short stint for Gid, but how long?
So now McMichen, Bryant, Barfield and Perryman are at WLW calling
themselves the Skillet Lickers. They end up at Pittsburgh's KDKA at
the end of 1931. Did they play in Schenectady NY on WGY in 1931. If
not when did they (McMichen) play in NY?
Thanks,
Richie
Peter Feldmann
> Hi,
>
> I'm doing some research and I have a few questions about the Skillet
> Lickers and Clayton McMichen.
>
> I figure the break-up to be 1931 (even tho they recorded again in
> 1934). The questions are relating to his period.
>
You are tackling a real can of worms. The "Skillet Lickers" were in
large part a creation of Frank Walker, A&R man for Columbia in the 20s
and 30s. It was more of a circus tent or umbrella, rather than a
consistent, cohesive group. There were personnel changes almost on a
monthly basis, lots of intra-band jealousies, rivalries, and even
split-off groups, such as McMichen's Melody Men and the Georgia Organ
Grinders (one of my faves...). The '31 and '34 Lickers were really two
quite different bands with distinctly different sounds.
I believe you're right about the breakup in '31. The depression was
gaining hold and a lot of string bands couldn't take the economic heat.
Hence, the formation of many of the "brother duet" groups -- musicians
coping with economic realities.
McMichen was such a driving force -- he constantly kept experimenting
with varying sounds, just as Monroe later did with his Blue Grass Boys.
(Monroe expressed an admiration of McMichen to me more than once).
Because of the fact that he never sang much, he was relegated to the
position of a sideman -- as so often happens in the country music world
-- even though he was the group's real leader. Mac said he didn't care
much for those old tunes, but man, could he play them!!!
Anyways, you're embarking on a great project, and I wish you the best of
success.
-Peter
--
Peter Feldmann
BlueGrass West
PO Box 614
Los Olivos, CA 93441 USA
+1 805 688 9894 // 805 350 3918 (cell)
www.BlueGrassWest.com
richie
Thanks Peter,
Fortunately I have a few sources I can talk to Slim Bryant and Juanita
McMichen Lynch. I'm just trying to get the facts right becasue Slim is
100 and Juantia is 84. Slim has given me some insight but I believe he
has soem of the dates wrong.
We know McMichen was in Atlanta on WSB on Jan13, 1931 and back again
to record on Oct. 26. According to Slim they went to find a radio gig
at WLW but Otto Gray had just signed on they went acros the river and
auditioned at WCKY in Covington. By May they were at WCKY with Riley
Puckett, who needed to play to seal the deal. Their success at WCKY
propted wLW to offer them a spot and they broke their contract and
played at WLW.
Gid Tanner came to WCKY to help smooth things over and Riley Puckett
stayed in Covington. McMichen played at wLW, then according to Slim
they went to Louisville WHAS in the fall. After doing the session in
Atlanta they eventually ended up in Pittsburgh by Christmas (Slim).
I'm not sure if they were in Louisville fall of 1931- Slim may not
have remembered the date correctly. Apparently the Georgia Wildcats
were in Louisville twice before settling there in 1940 without Slim. I
have several radio recordings of the Georgia Wildcats playing with
Cliff Gross (Doughboys) in 1941 at Howell's Fruniture Store in
Louisville.
I also need the dates McMichen played on the Grand Ole Opry and when
he played in NY. Juanita went to school there for a while but she
doesn't know the dates. I'm going to visit her soon and look through
her collection,
Richie
richie
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'll post some info that will need to be worked on more. If anyone has
any details to add please do. I talked to Slim Bryant for a while and
I think we have the McMichen details.
There are some statements that will need to be investigated. I need
help but I'll put my info on here for others.
Slim states that Merle Travis never played with the Georgia Wildcats
Slim met Travis "only once when Travis was a 17 year old kid, I meet
him around Drakesboro, we had a short jam backstage." Slim
corresponded with Travis for many years.
Gary Cinell and others attribute McMichen with starting Travis career
with the Wildcats and have Travis playing guitar in 1937. However in
the 1937 recording session Travis was not present. Slim played with
McMichen until 1939 when they split in Richmond Virginia.
Something's fishy here and I believe Slim. It's possible McMichen
hired Travis to play a few shows when Slim was gone, but I doubt it.
Here's my timeline:
TIMELINE
Atlanta WSB Jan 13, 1931
Search for Radio spot; visit WLW and auditioned at WCKY- April 1931
WCKY hires them as Skillet Lickers May 1931; Clatyon McMichen Bert
Layne, Slim Bryant and Riley Puckett
They perform at various theaters including Broadway in Cincinnati
where fans lined up for 3 blocks to get in.
Move to WLW summer 1931, band now features McMichen, Slim Bryant, Pat
Berryman, and Johnny Barfield. Riley Puckett stays at WCKY- Gid Tanner
and Bill Helms join him.
Atlanta recording Oct. McMichen Oct. 26 Georgia Wildcats with Slim
Bryant McMichen and Bert Layne (Columbia) McMichen also recorded 2
sessions with Riley Puckett.
Atlanta recording Nov. 13-15 Slim Bryant, Bert Layne and Johnny
Barfield (Richmond, IN; Champion records)
KDKA Pittsburgh Dec 18 1931 Georgia Wildcats; Slim Bryant, McMichen
Cleveland WTAM 1932
New Jersey, NY recording sessions with Victor/Rodgers and Crown Aug.
Aug. 30th 1932
Louisville, KY fall 1932 Mac goes to WLS by himself.
World's Fair WLS 1933 Wildcats join McMichen at WLS. They play live on
an airplane with Red Foley, Mac and Bob.
Back to Louisville Sept 1933 Jack Dunigan stays with WLS
WGY in 1933 NY 8 weeks.
KWK St. Louis 2 months circa 1935 Uncle Dick's Furniture store.
Louisville KY WHAS (WAVE ?) 1935-1938
Recording: Decca July 22, 1937 NY Georgia Wildcats McMichen; Loppy and
Slim Bryant; Ken Newton; Jerry Wallace;
Recording: Decca Aug 1938 Georgia Wildcats w/ Carl Cotner
Recording: Decca May 30, 1939 Georgia Wildcats
WRVA Richmond Virgina 1938 McMichen returns to Louisville in 1939 Slim
and Loppy stay in Richmond.
Georgia Wildcats members; Clayton McMichen; ocassionally Bert Lane;
Slim Bryant; Pat Berryman; Ken Newton; Jack Dunigan, Johnny Barfield;
Loppy Bryant (Bass); Carl Cotner (fiddle);
Richie
richie
I just figured out what happened with Merle Travis. Slim didn't tell
me he formed a band in 1936 and played in St. Louis for a year then
returned to Louisville in 1937. When Slim left he never met Travis who
McMichen hired after Slim's departure.
I'll have more and better info after visiting with Juanita.
If anyone has info about McMichen and the Grande Ole Opry I'd
appreciate it.
Richie
richie
I've found out a bit more regarding Merle Travis and McMichen.
After talking with Slim again- this is what happened. in late summer
early fall Slim formed his own band. He took Loppy, Jack Dunigan,
Wallace, and another fiddler and dubbed themselves Slim, Jack and the
Gang and went to St. Louis. After six months and by March 1, 1937
Slim, Jack and the Gang returned to Pittsburgh and KDKA where they
stayed 18 months.
They returned to Louisville around in the summer of 1948 in time fro
the Decca recording on Aug 2.
According to what Travis has said (that he played on Farewell Blues),
Merle Travis played on the July 22, 1937 session with McMichen for
Decca. This contradicts what Tony Russell has published.
Since Bryant was in Pittsburgh, it has to be true.
McMichen posed as Merle Travis' father so Merle, who was under the age
of 21, could get married. Uncle Bert (Bert Layne) posed as Mary
Elizabeth Johnson's father.
Richie